Last March findmypast announced plans to release the 1939 Register…

And after a L O N G build up (the teases) the project is finally complete.

Over 40 million records held at The National Archives have been restored, scanned and transcribed to produce a fully searchable database for your sleuthing delight.

Get cracking here…

Search the 1939 Register on findmypast

What Is The 1939 Register?

At the outbreak of the Second World War the government undertook an assessment of the population in order to issue identity cards, ration books and aid other planning (e.g. conscription).

On 29^th September 1939 each household completed a form to provide the government with the following information about each household member:

• Address
• Name
• Sex
• Date of Birth
• Marital Status
• Occupation
• Membership of the armed forces or reserves

Unlike the census records the exact date of birth is recorded which will make it much easier to track down other records, such as birth certificates.

Citizens were also asked to record any other names they had previously been known by, such as maiden names. This extra information should help you to track down the correct birth and marriage certificate much quicker.

Plus, the details of any name changes by deed poll could help you solve some mysteries!

What’s also great about this record set is that it was maintained right up until 1996, so any future name changes are also recorded.

The records for anyone born less than 100 years ago will be closed to protect the privacy of the living. As time passes more records will be released as individuals pass the 100 year old threshold.

However, you will be able to request that a record for someone born less than 100 years ago is opened if you can provide proof of death.

How Do I Access The 1939 Register?

The 1939 Register records are available to search on the findmypast website from today.

The database is free to search and you can see a preview of the record transcription before you commit to purchasing the full record.

The preview will show name, year born and place of residence. The number of other people in the household is also shown with a breakdown of how many are available to view now, and how many are closed due to the 100 year rule.

With the 1931 census destroyed by fire, no 1941 census due to the war and the 1921 census not due for release until at least 2021, the 1939 Register really is a crucial resource.

It enables you to connect the dots from the Victorian generation recorded on the 1911 census to the present day…

…and provides a fascinating insight into your ancestors lives as they prepare for 6 years of war.

Start discovering your family’s wartime story with the 1939 Register here.

This is the most exciting record release since the 1911 census and could provide major new breakthroughs in our family history research!

02/11/15 UPDATE: The 1939 Register is now available to search here.

Here’s a quick overview of the 1939 National Register and what it can offer family historians…

At the outbreak of World War II the government acted quickly to carry out an emergency enumeration of the nation to help with their planning decisions.

Each household was issued with a form to record the details of all those living at the address on 29^th September 1939. The information collected included:

• Address
• Name
• Sex
• Date of Birth
• Marital Status
• Occupation
• Membership of the armed forces or reserves

The details were then used to issue identity cards that all citizens had to carry with them for the duration of the war. And in anticipation of the need for rationing, the data was also used to issue ration books.

With the 1931 census records destroyed in a fire and no census taken in 1941 due to the war, the 1939 Register is the only surviving record of the entire nation in a 30 year period.

Working in partnership with The National Archives, findmypast are aiming to have published the records within the next two years. So we should have access to them before the 1921 census, which is not due for release until 2022.

The record set contains over 40 million records…

However, in order to protect the privacy of the living only records for those with a birth date of over 100 years ago or who are proved to be deceased will be available.

02/11/15 UPDATE: The 1939 Register is now available to search here.